sustainable

adjective

sus·​tain·​able sə-ˈstā-nə-bəl How to pronounce sustainable (audio)
Synonyms of sustainablenext
1
: capable of being sustained
sustainable growth
a sustainable business model
And the ratings spike did not prove sustainable for the rest of the evening.Brian Steinberg
2
a
: of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
sustainable techniques
sustainable agriculture
The study reflects a broadening search for more climate-friendly sustainable protein sources.Ashley Miznazi
b
: of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods
a sustainable society
a sustainable future
… the most sustainable garment is one that already exists.Angela Velasquez
sustainability noun
… several boards throughout the state that focus on green building and sustainability. Melissa Followell
sustainably adverb

Examples of sustainable in a Sentence

a line of argument that is probably not sustainable in a public forum against skilled debaters has no sustainable claim to the property without a deed or some other document
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When these groups are meaningfully engaged from the start, policies are stronger, more sustainable and far more likely to succeed. Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026 Making improvement sustainable Despite having many of the right structures in place, turning around a campus with long-term success can be tricky business. Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 4 Jan. 2026 Trump was never going to do this, nor would such a policy be sustainable given all the other priorities the United States has. Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026 Small, repeatable micro-resolutions are more sustainable and effective than ambitious health goals for long-term wellness. Currie Engel, Health, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustainable

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sustainable was in 1924

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sustainable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.

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